"We didn't tolerate sad-looking dogs from Pedigree, and we're certainly not going to tolerate it in the show ring," spokesman David Frei says
NEW YORK CITY - As the nation's oldest dog show continues today, officials of the Westminster Kennel Club warned several breeds that they may be dropped for looking sad.
The move comes after the Club parted ways with Pedigree dog food as a show sponsor. The company's ads showed shelter dogs peering through cage doors, waiting for new homes. "Those ads were total downers," said WKC spokesman David Frei. "We're into glamor and happiness and collecting high breeding fees. Who wants to see the other side of it?"
Although the Club did not name specific breeds, observers believe basset hounds are at the top of the list. "They have the classic hang-dog look, which is really unfortunate for them," said dog expert Robert Brenneman. "In fact, all the hounds need to perk up a little if they want to stick around.
"Some dogs, you can't tell they're depressed --- komodors and pulis have all that hair, and you can't even see their faces. But a lot of the others better start thinking about doggie Prozac."
"We want people to think of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show as a celebration of dogs," David Frei said. "Some people may celebrate when a dog gets adopted, but we don't want to be associated with that sort of thing."
